Paenibacillus Spp. and Methods for Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Materials

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are methods for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol, by co-culture of a member of the genus  Paenibacillus  and an ethanologenic microbe, such as yeast or  E. coli . Also provided are methods for making enzymes useful in the saccharification of a pretreated lignocellulosic material. The enzymes may be made by culturing a member of the genus  Paenibacillus  in a composition suitable for production of such enzymes. An example of such a composition is a pretreated lignocellulosic material, for example, spent hydrolysates. Also provided are genetically modified members of the genus  Paenibacillus  that have been genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial, for instance, a polymyxin E.

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/055,485, filed May 23, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The use of enzymes to saccharify lignocellulosic biomass is typically performed after other physical and/or chemical methods of pretreatment and can be accomplished prior to or in conjunction with fermentation. Pretreatment breaks down biomass to allow access to the enzymes, which can then hydrolyse the remaining cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin polymers. Most enzymatic saccharifications are performed with commercially available cell-free extracts of fungal cultures, or in some cases, bacterial cultures, designed to provide predominantly cellulase, xylanase, or pectinase hydrolysis of the lignocellulose. The fungal enzymes typically have optima of 45° C. and pH 4.5, which can differ significantly from optimal fermentation conditions, especially when the ethanologen is a bacterium.

Cellulose degradation can occur via free, secreted enzymes or by enzyme complexes attached to the surface of microorganisms (a cellulosome). While anaerobic organisms typically possess cellulosomes, aerobic bacteria and fungi typically employ free enzymes. The degradation of cellulose is achieved through the action of three types of enzymes: endo-glucanases, cellobiohydrolases (or exo-glucanases), and β-glucosidases. Endo- and exo-glucanases cleave within or at the end of the glucan chain, respectively, and are classified based on both their structural fold and catalytic mechanism. Hydrolysis of cellulose by glucanases is catalyzed by two carboxyl groups in the active site and can either invert or retain configuration of the anomeric carbon. Enzymes that retain chirality use a double-displacement mechanism with a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate while enzymes that invert chirality operate by a single-step concerted mechanism, β-glucosidases cleave cellobiose to monomeric glucose and are essential for overall cellulose degradation to glucose; accumulated cellobiose and/or glucose inhibit the activity of glucanases.

Hemicellulases are either glycoside hydrolases (GHs) or carbohydrate esterases (CEs), and are classified into families based on their activity and homology of primary sequence. GH enzymes are responsible for the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds, while ester linked acetate and ferulic acids side chains are cleaved by CE enzymes. As the structure of hemicellulose is very heterogeneous, a wide array of enzymes is necessary for hydrolysis. Additionally, many hemicellulases have carbohydrate-binding modules in addition to catalytic domains; as much of the hemicellulose structure can be insoluble, the carbohydrate-binding modules play a role in targeting of the enzymes to the polymers.

Xylan is one major type of hemicellulose. Xylanases cleave the β-1,4 glycosidic bonds of the xylose backbone, while xylosidases hydrolyze resultant oligomers to monomeric xylose. Ferulic acid esterases and acetyl-xylan esterases cleave the ester bonds of ferulic acid and acetate side chains, respectively. Arabinofuranosidases hydrolyze arabinofuranosyl side chains from the xylose backbone and can have varying specificity as to the location of the arabinofuranosyl group. Finally, glucuronidases are responsible for the cleavage of glucuronic acid side chain α-1,2-glycosidic bonds.

A second form of hemicellulose is substituted β-mannan, such as galactomannan. Much like xylanases, β-mannanases are responsible for cleaving the mannose backbone to oligomers, which are then hydrolyzed to monomeric mannose by mannosidases. Side chain moieties, like galactose, are cleaved by respective GHs, and, in this case, by α-galactosidases.

Pectinases can be divided into three general activity groups: protopectinases, which act on insoluble pectic polymers; esterases, which de-esterify methyl and acetyl moieties from pectin; and depolymerases, which either cleave or hydrolyze glycosidic bonds with polygalacturonic acid polymers. Protopectinases are usually unnecessary for degradation of lignocellulose if physical and/or chemical pretreatment methods have been employed prior to enzymatic saccharification.

Pectin methylesterases are well described in bacteria, and fungi and are responsible for the hydrolysis of the ester linkages from the polygalacturonic acid backbone. Pectin acetylesterases, which act in the same manner as pectin methylesterases to remove acetyl groups, have been described in plants and fungi; however, this type of enzyme has been found in only one bacterium, Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937. Pectin esterases are particularly important because many depolymerases cannot act upon methylated or acetylated pectin.

Pectin depolymerases act upon the polygalacturonate backbone and belong to one of two families: polygalacturonases or lyases. Polygalacturonases are responsible for the hydrolytic cleavage of the polygalacturonate chain, while lyases cleave by β-elimination giving a Δ 4,5-unsaturated product. For pectin polymers with a rhamnogalacturonan-I backbone, other hydrolases are also necessary; rhamnosidases hydrolyze rhamnose from the backbone, and arabinofuranosidases and galactosidases cleave arabinose and galactose, respectively, from substituted rhamnose subunits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein are methods for producing ethanol. In some aspects the methods include fermenting a composition that includes a pretreated lignocellulosic material, wherein the fermenting includes contacting the composition with an ethanologenic microbe and a Paenibacillus spp., such as P. amylolyticus. The pretreated lignocellulosic material may be present at a concentration of at least 10% solids, and the fermenting may be a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. In some aspects the ethanologenic microbe may be a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli. The pretreated lignocellulosic material may be pine, such as Pinus taeda. The Paenibacillis spp. may produce an enzyme having saccharifying activity when incubated on a medium that includes inorganic salts and a carbon source selected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof.

In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial, such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. is genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. The contacting may include inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillis spp. before inoculating the composition with the ethanologenic microbe, for instance, at least 12 hours before the composition is inoculated with the ethanologenic microbe. The contacting may include inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillis spp. and the ethanologenic microbe at substantially the same time. The method may further include adding pretreated lignocellulosic material to the composition after the fermenting has begun, for instance, at least 12 hours after the fermenting has begun.

Also provided herein are methods that include providing a composition that includes spent hydrolysates and culturing a Paenibacillus spp., such as Paenibacillus amylolyticus, in the composition under conditions suitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifying activity. In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial, such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. is genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. The spent hydrolysates may be obtained from fermentation of a pretreated lignocellulosic material The Paenibacillis spp. may produce an enzyme having saccharifying activity when incubated on a medium that includes inorganic salts and a carbon source selected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof. The method may further include mixing the composition that includes the Paenibacillis spp. and an enzyme having saccharifying activity with a composition that includes a pretreated lignocellulosic material to result in a fermentation composition. This fermentation composition may be contacted with an enthanologenic microbe including a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli.

Further provided herein are methods including providing a first composition obtained from culturing a Paenibacillus spp., such as P. amylolyticus , in a second composition having spent hydrolysates under conditions suitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifying activity, and mixing the first composition with a third composition that includes a pretreated lignocellulosic material to result in a fermentation composition. The fermentation composition may be contacted with an ethanologenic microbe including a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli. In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial, such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. is genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial.

Also provided herein are methods that include culturing a Paenibacillus spp. in a composition that includes spent hydrolysates under conditions suitable for the production of an enzyme having saccharifying activity, wherein the culturing results in a second composition that includes the Paenibacillis spp. and an enzyme having saccharifying activity. The Paenibacillus spp. may be substantially removed from the second composition. In some aspects, the Paenibacillis spp. may produce an antimicrobial, such as a polymyxin, and in other aspects the Paenibacillus spp. is genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial.

Provided herein are genetically modified Paenibacillus amylolyticus that have been genetically modified to not produce an antimicrobial. The antimicrobial may be polymyxin E, and the genetically modified P. amylolyticus may include a transposon mutation that prevents expression of polymyxin E

The term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

The terms “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the description and claims.

Unless otherwise specified, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one” are used interchangeably and mean one or more than one.

Also herein, the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

For any method disclosed herein that includes discrete steps, the steps may be conducted in any feasible order. And, as appropriate, any combination of two or more steps may be conducted simultaneously.

The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The description that follows more particularly exemplifies illustrative embodiments. In several places throughout the application, guidance is provided through lists of examples, which examples can be used in various combinations. In each instance, the recited list serves only as a representative group and should not be interpreted as an exclusive list,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Provided herein are wild type and genetically modified Paenibacillus spp., and methods for using wild type and genetically modified Paenibacillus spp. for fermenting lignocellulosic materials into fermentation products. The term “fermentation product” means a product produced by a process including a fermentation using an ethanologenic microbe. Fermentation products contemplated according to the invention include alcohols such as, but not limited to, ethanol. Ethanol obtained according to the methods described herein maybe used as fuel ethanol, drinking ethanol, e.g., potable ethanol, or industrial ethanol. A microbe described herein, for instance, a prokaryotic microbe such as a Paenibacillus spp. or a eukaryotic microbe such as a yeast, may be isolated. A microbe is “isolated” when it has been removed from its natural environment and can be grown as a pure culture. A genetically modified Paenibacillus spp. is understood to be isolated.

Members of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods disclosed herein may be obtained from soil, such as soil containing organic material, for example rice fields; food products (Yoshikatsu et al, 2006, Biocontro. Sci., 11:43-47; Kim et al, 2009, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol, 59:1002-1006), or the digestive tract of insects that have a diet that includes lignocellulosic biomass, for instance, termites, honeybee (Neuendorf et al., 2004, Microbiol, 150:2381-2390), and Tipula abdominalis (Cook et al, 2007, Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 73:5683-5686). Whether a microbe is a member of the genus Paenibacillus can be determined by routine methods known to the person skilled in the art. Examples of Paenibacillus spp. useful in the methods described herein may include, but are not limited to, P. amylolyticus (Nakamura, 1984, Int. J Syst Bacterial, 34:224-226; Shida et al, 1997, Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47, 299-306), P. pabuli (Heyndrickx et al., 1996, Int J Syst Bacterial, 46:988-1003; Nakamura, 1984, Int J Syst Bacteriol, 34:224-226; Shida et al, 1997, Int J Syst Bacteriol 47, 299-306), P. illinoisensis (Berge et al, 2002, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 52:607-616; Shida et al, 1997, Int J Syst Bacteriol, 47, 299-306), and P. polymyxa (Claus and Berkeley, 1986, Bacillus. IN Sneath, ed., Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Baltimore, The Willimas and Wilkins Co.; Heyndrickx et al., 1996, Int J Syst Bacterid, 46:988-1003). When the Paenibacillus is P. amylolyticus, the P. amylolyticus may include a 16S rRNA sequence that is similar to, or identical to a 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence available at the Genbank database under accession numbers AY50445I, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456. Determining the nucleotide sequence of a 16S rRNA coding sequence can be accomplished using routine methods known to the person skilled in the art.

The similarity between a 16S rRNA sequence present in a P. amylolyticus and a 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence available at the Genbank database under accession numbers AY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456 is referred to as structural similarity and is determined by aligning the residues of the two sequences (i.e., the nucleotide sequence of a 16S rRNA sequence present in a P. amylolyticus and the sequence present at AY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456) to optimize the number of identical nucleotides along the lengths of their sequences; gaps in either or both sequences are permitted in making the alignment in order to optimize the number of shared nucleotides, although the nucleotides in each sequence must nonetheless remain in their proper order. Two nucleotide sequences may be compared using the BESTFIT algorithm in the GCG package (version 10.2, Madison Wis.), or the Blastn program of the BLAST 2 search algorithm, as described by Tatusova, et al. (FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999, 174:247-250), and available through the World Wide Web, for instance at the internet site maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health. Preferably, the default values for all BLAST 2. search parameters are used, including reward for match=1, penalty for mismatch=−2, open gap penalty=5, extension gap penalty=2, gap x_dropoff=50, expect=10, wordsize=11, and optionally, filter on. In the comparison of two nucleotide sequences using the BLAST search algorithm, structural similarity is referred to as “identities.” Preferably, a P. amylolyticus 16S rRNA includes a nucleotide sequence having a structural similarity with the sequence present at AY504451, AY504452, AY504453, AY504454, AY504455, or AY504456 of at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at. least 98%, or at. least 99% identity.

A member of the genus Paenibacillus typically has characteristics that include: ability to grow under anaerobic conditions; catalase activity; ability to produce acid from arabinose, glucose, mannitol, and/or xylose; starch hydrolysis activity; ability to grow in 2% NaCl; and ability to grow at pH 5.6. Optionally, a member of the genus Paenibacillus may have characteristics including nitrate reduction activity, caesin hydrolysis activity, and ability to grow in 0.001% lysozyme.

A member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein has the characteristic of producing enzymes having saccharifying activity. The enzyme having saccharifying activity may be secreted. As used herein, saccharifying

refers to breaking a complex carbohydrate (as starch or cellulose) into disaccharide components, such as cellobiose, and monosaccharide components, such as glucose. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, xylanase activity, pectinase activity, amylase activity, mannanase activity, and cellulase (such as carboxymethylcellulase) activity. Examples of cellulase activity include endo-acting and exo-acting cellulases. A member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein may produce one or more enzymes having saccharifying activity during growth in aerobic conditions, microaerophilic conditions, and/or anaerobic conditions.

Whether a member of the genus Paenibacillus produces an enzyme having one of these activities may be determined using routine methods known to the person skilled in the art. For example, a member of the genus Paenibacillus may be grown in a defined basal medium that includes 7 grams K₂HPO₄/liter, 3 grams KH₂PO₄/liter, 1 grams (NH₄)₂SO₄/liter, 0.5 grams sodium citrate/liter, and 0.1 grams MgSO₄-7H₂O/liter. The defined basal medium may be supplemented with different carbohydrates, individually or in combination, at 1% (wt/vol), and after growth in the medium for 48 hours the supernatant can be collected via centrifugation and assayed for the presence of, for instance, xylanase, pectinase, amylase, and cellulase activity using routine methods known to the person skilled in the art. For instance, methods for assaying enzymatic activities on the following model substrates are routine and well known: carboxymethylcellulose (Wood and Kellogg, 1988, Biomass part A: cellulose and hemicellulose, vol. 160. Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.); starch (Thomas et al., 1980, J. Gen. Microbiol, 118:67-72); xylan (Mondou et al, 1986, Gene, 49:323-330); polygalacturonate (Starr et al., 1977, J. Clin. Microbiol., 6:379-386); and methylumbelliferyl conjugates of cellobiopyranoside, arabinofuranoside, glucoside, mannopyranoside, and xyloside (Sharrock, 1988, J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 17:81-106). Examples of carbohydrates that can be added to the defined basal medium include, but are not limited to, glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin (for instance, polygalacturonate), starch, xylan, and carboxymethylcellulose. Complex mixtures of carbohydrates may also be added, such as pretreated lignocellulosic material derived from, for instance, pine or Bermudagrass. Pretreated lignocellulosic material is described herein. After growth, on the defined basal medium supplemented with a carbohydrate at 1% (wt/vol) for 48 hours, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein may produce 006In enzyme having saccharifying activity, such as a xylanase, a pectinase, an amylase, and/or a cellulase at a concentration of at least 0.1, at least 0.15, at least 0.2, at least 0,25, at least 0.3, at least 0.35, at least 0.4, or at least 0.45 International Units per milliliter (IU/ml).

A member of the genus Paenibacillus, such as P. amylolyticus , may have the characteristic of producing phenolic acid decarboxylases, for example, enzymes converting phenolic acids to aromatic 4-vinyl derivatives, with no need for additional cofactors. Examples of such phenolic acids include, for instance, ferulic, β-coumaric, and/or caffeic acids. These are expected to aid in detoxifing hydroxycinnamic acids released after plant cell wall degradation.

Examples of P. amylolyticus strains useful in the methods disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, 27C64, C26, C27, C28, C29, and C30 (Cook et al, 2007, Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 73:5683-5686; Doran-Peterson and Decrescenzo-Henriksen, U.S. Patent Application 20090081733).

Optionally, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein expresses an antimicrobial. An antimicrobial is a compound that is able to inhibit growth (e.g., replication) or kill a microbe. Preferably, an antimicrobial inhibits or kills a Gram negative microbe, a Gram positive microbe, or both Gram negative and Gram positive microbes. Preferably, an antimicrobial produced by a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein does not inhibit or kill a eukaryotic microbe.

The production of an antimicrobial by a member of the genus Paenibacillus can be determined by routine screening methods. For instance, a candidate Paenibacillus can be incubated under conditions suitable for replication, such as aerobic or anaerobic conditions, and other microbial isolates (referred to as indicator strains) can be exposed to the candidate Paenibacillus. A candidate Paenibacillus is the isolate being assayed for the production of an antimicrobial. Indicator strains may be either Gram negative (such as, but not limited to, E. coliand Salmonella spp.) or Gram positive (such as, but not limited to, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). Methods for using indicator strains to evaluate the activity of an antimicrobial are routine and known to the skilled person. For instance, indicator strains can be exposed to a culture supernatant obtained from medium in which the candidate Paenibacillus was grown, or the indicator strains can be grown on the same solid medium as the candidate Paenibacillus in such a way to result in overlapping growth of the candidate Paenibacillus and the indicator strains. The inhibition of growth of an indicator strain is evidence the Paenibacillus produces an antimicrobial.

An example of an antimicrobial that may be produced by a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein is a polymyxin, such as polymyxin E1 (also known as colistin A) or polymyxin E2 (also known as colistin B). A Paenibacillus may produce both. For instance, a polymyxin produced by a P. amylolyticus may include leucine and threonine, and either lysine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, or a combination thereof The molecular weight of a polymyxin produced by a P. amylolyticus maybe 1,155 or 1,169 Daltons (see Doran-Peterson and Decrescenzo-Henriksen, U.S. Patent Application 20090081733).

In some aspects, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein does not express an antimicrobial. Such strains can be obtained by routine screening for antimicrobial-deficient members of the genus Paenibacillus. Alternatively, a member of the genus Paenibacillus useful in the methods described herein that produces an antimicrobial can be modified to result in a genetically modified Paenibacillus that does not produce an antimicrobial As used herein, “genetically modified” microbe refers to a microbe that has been altered “by the hand of man.” For example, a microbe is a genetically modified microbe by virtue of introduction into a suitable microbe of an exogenous polynucleotide. “Genetically modified microbe” also refers to a microbe that, has been genetically manipulated such that endogenous nucleotides have been altered. For example, a microbe is a genetically modified microbe by virtue of introduction into a suitable microbe of an alteration of endogenous nucleotides. For instance, an endogenous coding region could be deleted or mutagenized. Such mutations may result in a polypeptide having a different amino acid sequence than was encoded by the endogenous polynucleotide.

Methods for genetically modifying Paenibacillus spp. include those useful for genetically modifying members of the genus Bacillus, such as B. subtilus. Such methods are routine and known to the person skilled in the art. Methods that may be used to result in a genetically modified Paenibacillus that does not produce an antimicrobial include random mutagenesis methods, such as transposon mutagenesis or exposure of cells to a mutagen, such as nitrosoguanidine. For instance, a Paenibacillus spp. may be subjected to mutagenesis by introducing a transposon into Paenibacillus spp. cells, and screening the resulting cells to identity colonies that do not produce the antimicrobial.

Provided herein are methods for fermenting lignocellosic material into fermentation products. The process of producing fermentation products, preferably ethanol, from lignocellulosic materials typically includes pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis through the use of cellulases, fermentation, and recovery of the fermentation product. The process may also include, for instance, separation of the sugar solution from residual materials such as lignin. The methods disclosed herein typically include using saccharifying enzymes produced by a wild type or genetically modified Paenibacillus spp.

Any suitable lignocellulosic material is contemplated in context of the present methods. Lignocellulosic material maybe any material containing lignocellulose. In some aspects, the lignocellulosic material contains at least 50 wt %, preferably at least 70 wt %, more preferably at least 90 wt % lignocellulose. It is to be understood that the lignocellulosic material may also include other constituents such as cellulosic material, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and may also include constituents such as sugars, such as fermentable sugars and/or un-fermentable sugars.

Lignocellulosic material is generally found, for example, in the stems, leaves, hulls, husks, and cobs of plants or leaves, branches, and wood of trees. lignocellulosic material can also be, but is not limited to, herbaceous material, agricultural residues, forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, waste paper, and pulp and paper mill residues. It is understood herein that lignocellulose material may be in the form of plant cell wall material containing lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose in a mixed matrix. In some aspects the lignocellulosic material is corn fiber, rice straw, pine wood such as Pinus taeda, poplar, wheat straw, switchgrass, Bermudagrass, paper and pulp processing waste, corn stover, corn fiber, hardwood such as poplar and birch, softwood such as Doulas fir and pine and spruce, cereal straw such as wheat straw, municipal solid waste, industrial organic waste, office paper, sugarcane and bagasse, sugarbeets and pulp, sweet potatoes with skins, food processing wastes or mixtures thereof.

The steps following pretreatment, e.g., hydrolysis and fermentation, can be performed separately or simultaneously. Conventional methods used to process the lignocellulosic material in accordance with the methods disclosed herein are well understood to those skilled in the art. Detailed discussion of methods and protocols for the production of ethanol from biomass are reviewed in Wyman (1999, Annu. Rev. Energy Environ., 24:189-226), Gong et al. (1999, Adv. Biochem. Engng. Biotech., 65: 207-241), Sun and Cheng (2002, Bioresource Technol., 83:1-11), and Olsson and Hahn-Hagerdal (1996, Enzyme and Microb. Technol., 18:312-331). The methods of the present invention may be implemented using any conventional biomass processing apparatus (also referred to herein as a bioreactor) configured to operate in accordance with the invention. Such an apparatus may include a batch-stirred reactor, a continuous flow stirred reactor with ultrafiltration, a continuous plug-flow column reactor (Gusakov, A. V., and Sinitsyn, A. P., 1985, Enz. Microb. Technol., 7: 346-352), an attrition reactor (Ryu, S. K., and Lee, J. M., 1983, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 25: 53-65), or a reactor with intensive stirring induced by an electromagnetic field (Gusakov, A. V., Sinitsyn, A. P., Davydkin, I. Y., Davydkin, V. Y., Protas, O. V., 1996, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol, 56: 141-153). Smaller scale fermentations may be conducted using, for instance, a flask or a fleaker.

The conventional methods include, but are not limited to, saccharification, fermentation, separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), simultaneous saccharification and cofermentation (SSCF), hybrid hydrolysis and fermentation (HHF), and direct microbial conversion (DMC). The fermentation can be carried out by batch fermentation or by fed-batch fermentation,

SHF uses separate process steps to first enzymatically hydrolyze cellulose to glucose and then ferment glucose to ethanol. In SSF, the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and the fermentation of glucose to ethanol are combined in one step (Philippidis, G. P., 1996, Cellulose bioconversion technology, in Handbook on Bioethanol: Production and Utilization, Wyman, C. E., ed., Taylor & Francis, Washington, D.C., 179-212). SSCF includes the coferementation of multiple sugars (Sheehan, J., and Himmel, M., 1999, Enzymes, energy and the environment: A strategic perspective on the U.S. Department of Energy's research and development activities for bioethanol, Biotechnol. Prog., 15: 817-827). HHF includes two separate steps earned out in the same reactor but at different temperatures, i.e., high temperature enzymatic saccharification followed by SSF at a lower temperature that the fermentation strain can tolerate. DMC combines ail three processes (cellulase production, cellulose hydrolysis, and fermentation) in one step (Lynd, L. R., Weimer, P. J., van Zyl, W. H., and Pretorius, I. S., 2002, Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Reviews, 66: 506-577).

There are numerous pretreatment methods or combinations of pretreatment methods known in the art. and routinely used. Physical pretreatment breaks down the size of lignocellulosic material by milling or aqueous/steam processing. Chipping or grinding may be used to typically produce particles between 0.2 and 30 mm in size. Methods used for lignocelluosic materials typically require intense physical pretreatments such as steam explosion and other such treatments (Peterson et al., U.S. Patent Application 20090093028). The most common chemical pretreatment methods used for lignocellulosic materials include dilute acid, alkaline, organic solvent, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide or other chemicals to make the biomass more available to enzymes. Biological pretreatments are sometimes used in combination with chemical treatments to solubilize the lignin in order to make cellulose more accessible to hydrolysis and fermentation.

Steam explosion is a common method for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass and increases the amount of cellulose available for enzymatic hydrolysis (Foody, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,648). Generally, the material is treated with high-pressure saturated steam and the pressure is rapidly reduced, causing the materials to undergo an explosive decompression. Steam explosion is typically initiated at a temperature of 160-260° C. for several seconds to several minutes at pressures of up to 4.5 to 5 MPa. The biomass is then exposed to atmospheric pressure. The process typically causes hemicellulose degradation and lignin transformation. Addition of H₂SO₄, SO₂, or CO₂ to the steam explosion reaction can improve subsequent cellulose hydrolysis, decrease production of inhibitory compounds and lead to the more complete removal of hemicellulose (Morjanoff and Gray, 1987, Biotechnol. Bioeng. 29:733-741).

In ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) pretreatment, biomass is treated with approximately 1-2 kg ammonia per kg dry biomass for approximately 30 minutes at pressures of 1.5 to 2 MPa. (Dale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,590; Dale, U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,663; Mes-Hartree, et al. 1988, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol, 29:462-468). Like steam explosion, the pressure is then rapidly reduced to atmospheric levels, boiling the ammonia, and exploding the lignocellulosic material. AFEX pretreatment appears to be especially effective for biomass with a relatively low lignin content, but not for biomass with high lignin content, such as newspaper or aspen chips (Sun and Cheng, 2002, Bioresource Technol, 83:1-11).

Concentrated or dilute acids may also be used for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. H₂SO₄ and HCl have been used at high concentrations, for instance, greater than 70%. In addition to pretreatment, concentrated acid may also be used for hydrolysis of cellulose (Hester et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,118). Dilute acids can be used at either high (>160° C.) or low (<160° C.) temperatures, although high temperature is preferred for cellulose hydrolysis (Sun and Cheng, 2002, Bioresource Technol, 83:1-11). H2S04 and HQ at. concentrations of 0.3 to 2% (wt/wt) and treatment times ranging from minutes to 2 hours or longer can be used for dilute acid pretreatment.

Other pretreatments include alkaline hydrolysis (Qian et al, 2006, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol, 134:273; Galbe and Zacchi, 2,002, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol, 59:618), oxidative delignification, organosolv process (Pan et al, 2005, Biotechnol Bioeng., 90:473; Pan et. al, 2006, Biotechnol Bioeng., 94:851; Pan et. al, 2006, J. Agric. Food Chem., 54:5806; Pan et al, 2.007, Appl Biochem. Biotechnol, 137-140:367), or biological pretreatment.

Some of the pretreatment processes described above include hydrolysis of the hemicellulose and cellulose to monomer sugars. Others, such as organosolv, prepare the substrates so that they will be susceptible to hydrolysis. This hydrolysis step can in fact be part of the fermentation process if some methods, such as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), is used. Otherwise, the pretreatment may be followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulases.

A cellulase may be any enzyme involved in the degradation of lignocellulose to glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose. The cellulolytic enzyme may be a multicomponent enzyme preparation, e.g., cellulase, a monocomponent enzyme preparation, e.g., endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, glucohydrolase, beta-glucosidase, or a combination of multicomponent and monocomponent enzymes. The cellulolytic enzymes may have activity, e.g., hydrolyze cellulose, either in the acid, neutral, or alkaline pH-range.

A cellulase may be of fungal or bacterial origin, which may be obtainable or isolated from microorganisms which are known to be capable of producing cellulolytic enzymes, e.g., species of Humicola, Coprinus, Thielavia, Fusarium, Myceliophthora, Acremonium, Cephalosporium, Scytalidium, Penicillium or Aspergillus (see, for example, EP 458162), especially those produced by a strain selected from the species Humicola insolens (reclassified as Scytalidium thermophilum, see for example, Barbesgaard et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307), Coprinus cinereus, Fusarium oxysporum, Myceliophthora thermophila, Meripilus giganteus, Thielavia terrestris, Acremonium sp., Acremonium persicinum, Acremonium acremonium, Acremonium brachypenium, Acremonium dichromosporum, Acremonium obclavatum, Acremonium pinkertoniae, Acremonium roseogriseum, Acremonium incoloratum, and Acremonium furatum; preferably from the species Humicola insolens DSM 1800, Fusarium oxysporum DSM 2672, Myceliophthora thermophila CBS 117.65, Cephalosporium sp. RYM-202, Acremonium sp. CBS 478.94, Acremonium sp. CBS 265.95, Acremonium persicinum CBS 169.65, Acremonium acremonium AHU 9519, Cephalosporium sp. CBS 535.71, Acremonium brachypenium CBS 866.73, Acremonium dichromosporum CBS 683.73, Acremonium obclavatum CBS 311.74, Acremonium pinkertoniae CBS 157.70, Acremonium roseogriseum CBS 134.56, Acremonium incoloratum CBS 146.62, and Acremonium furatum CBS 299.70 H. Cellulolytic enzymes may also be obtained from Trichoderma (particularly Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma reesei, and Trichoderma koningii), alkalophilic Bacillus (see, for example, Horikoshi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,890 and EP 458162), and Streptomyces (see, for example, EP 458162). Useful cellulases maybe produced by fermentation of the above-noted microbial strains on a nutrient medium containing suitable carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art.

Examples of cellulases suitable for use in the present invention include, for example, CELLUCLAST (available from Novozymes A/S) and NOVOZYME (available from Novozymes A/S). Other commercially available preparations including cellulase which may be used include CELLUZYME, CEREFLO and ULTRAFLO (Novozymes A/S), LAMINEX and SPEZYME CP (Genencor Int.), and ROHAMENT 7069 W (Rohm GmbH).

Typically, cellulase enzymes may be added in amounts effective from 5 to 35 filter paper units (FPU) of activity per gram of substrate, or 0.001% to 5.0% wt. of solids. In those aspects of the methods described herein where the hydrolysis and fermentation following pretreatment are performed separately (e.g., SHF), the cellulase enzymes typically used for hydrolysis may be supplemented with enzymes produced by a Paenibacillus spp. described herein. Paenibacillus spp. derived enzymes may be obtained by growing a Paenibacillus spp. under conditions suitable for the production of enzymes having saccharifying activity. Conditions that are “suitable” for an event to occur, such as production of enzymes having saccharifying activity, or “suitable” conditions are conditions that do not prevent such events from occurring. Thus, these conditions permit, enhance, facilitate, and/or are conducive to the event. Suitable conditions include growth in a medium that includes pretreated lignocellulosic material. An example of a pretreated lignocellulosic material includes spent hydrolystates, e.g., the material remaining after lignocellulosic material is subjected to pretreatement, hydrolysis, fermentation, and recovery of a fermentation product. Typically, the spent hydrolysate includes a carbon source, e.g., carbohydrates, that were not catabolized by an ethanologenic microbe during a fermentation. In one aspect, when the ethanologenic microbe is a yeast that does not use pentoses, such as xylose, the pentoses present in the spent hydrolysate can be used by a Paenibacillus spp. as a carbon source. Spent hydrolysates may be supplemented with nutrients such as, but not limited to, components of the defined basal medium described herein to promote growth of a Paenibacillus spp. In some aspects, a spent hydrolysate is not supplemented with a carbon source, and in other aspects, for instance when production of the spent hydrolysate consumes all carbon sources, the spent hydrolysate may be supplemented with a carbon source. Conditions suitable for growth of a Paenibacillus spp. in spent hydrolysates include between 25° C. and 37° C., and pH of between 5 and 7. The production of enzymes by Paenibacillus spp. during the growth in the spent hydrolysates may be monitored using routine methods known to the skilled person.

The spent hydrolysate containing Paenibacillus spp, and enzymes produced during the incubation can be used for saccharification of lignocellulosic materials before fermentation. For instance, if the incubation of a Paenibacillus spp. in spent hydrolysate was in a bioreactor, pretreated lignocellulosic material may be added and hydrolysis allowed to proceed. Alternatively, the spent hydrolysate, now containing enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus spp., can be transferred to a bioreactor. Optionally, the Paenibacillus spp. may be substantially removed by, for instance, centrifugation prior to the transfer. The hydrolysis of the pretreated lignocellulosic material may, and typically does, require addition of cellulases often used in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material; however, the amount of cellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) appropriate for the hydrolysis is decreased due to the presence of the enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus spp. Typically, the amount of cellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) required for hydrolysis of the pretreated lignocellulosic material is decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, or at least 30%. Thus, cellulase enzymes typically added at 5 to 35 FPU of activity per gram of substrate can be decreased, for instance, to between 4.5 and 31.5 FPU of activity per gram of substrate, or to between 4.5 and 28 FPU of activity per gram of substrate. Furthermore, in this and other aspects, the ethanol in a fermentation is produced in a shorter period of time. This decreased need for cellulases can result in a significant decrease in costs associated with producing fermentation products from lignocellulosic materials.

A Paenibacillus spp, may be prepared for addition to pretreated lignocellulosic materials, e.g., spent hydrolysates, by routine culturing of Paenibacillus spp. For instance, a Paenibacillus spp. may be incubated in liquid medium, concentrated by centrifugation, and suspended in medium at a concentration that permits addition of a suitable volume to result in an appropriate number of cells added to the spent hydrolysates. Typically, enough cells are added to result in at least 5×10⁴, at least 1×10⁵, or at least 5×10⁵ cells per milliliter of spent hydrolysate. Optionally, the culture broth is also added to the spent hydrolysate. For instance, the supernatant resulting from concentrating the cells is added. Reaction conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulases and enzymes produced by a Paenibacillus spp. are typically pH 5 to 7 at a temperature between 30° C. and 37° C. with incubations of between 12 and 24 hours. Surfactants may also be used during enzyme hydrolysis to improve cellulose conversion (Vlasenko et al, U.S. Pat. 7,354,743). In those aspects wherein the culture broth is added, the mixture of culture broth and pretreated lignocellulosic material, such as spent hydrolysates, may be incubated at an elevated temperature before addition of an ethanologenic microbe, such as a temperature between 40° C. and 60° C., or between 45° C. and 55° C. Typically, if the enzymes are to be used with lignocellulosic materials that will be fermented with a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli, the Paenibacillus spp. is typically one that does not produce an antimicrobial that is active against Gram negative microbes. If the enzymes are to be used with lignocellulosic materials that will be fermented with a eukaryotic microbe, such as yeast, the Paenibacillus spp. is typically one that does produce an antimicrobial that is active against prokaryotic microbes. It is expected that other microbes, including Clostridium spp. such as C. thermocellum, C. phytofermentans, Byssovorax cruenta, Eubacterium cellulosolvens, and Cellvibrio mixtus may also be used to produce saccharifying enzymes by growth on spent hydrolysates, and those enzymes may be used to supplement hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic materials.

In those aspects of the methods described herein where the hydrolysis and fermentation steps following pretreatment are performed simultaneously (e.g., SSF), the cellulase enzymes typically used for hydrolysis (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) may be supplemented by co-culturing an ethanologenic microbe with a Paenibacillus spp. described herein during the hydrolysis/fermentation. Co-culture may also be used during the fermentation step of a process that includes separate hydrolysis and fermentation steps. Paenibacillus spp. may be added to pretreated lignocellulosic material prior to addition of an ethanologenic microbe, or added to pretreated lignocellulosic material at the same time an ethanologenic microbe is added. Addition of a Paenibacilus spp, to a fermentation was expected to result in decreased ethanol production since an ethanologenic microbe and a Paenibacilus spp. would compete for the same carbon source; however, there was found to be no decrease in ethanol production, and in some aspects, maximum ethanol production occurs in less time.

A Paenibacillus spp. may be prepared for addition to pretreated lignocellulosic materials by routine culturing of Paenibacillus spp. For instance, a, Paenibacillus spp. may be incubated in liquid medium, concentrated by centrifugation, and suspended in medium at a concentration that permits addition of a suitable volume to the hydrolysate/fermentation volume to result in an appropriate number of cells per mililiter. Typically, enough cells are added to result in at least 5×10⁴, at least 1×10⁵, or at least 5×10⁵ cells per milliliter of hydrolysis/fermentation volume. Optionally, the culture broth resulting from growth of a Paenibacillus spp. is also added to the hydrolysis/fermentation volume. For instance, the supernatant resulting from concentrating the cells is added. The culture broth may be at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40% of the total volume of the hydrolysis/fermentation mixture.

The hydrolysis/fermentation of the pretreated lignocellulosic material may, and typically does, require addition of cellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S); however, the amount of cellulases appropriate for the hydrolysis is decreased due to the presence of the enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus spp. Typically, the amount of cellulases (e.g., cellulases available from Novozymes A/S) required for hydrolysis of the pretreated lignocellulosic material is decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, or at least 30%. This decreased need for cellulases can result in a significant decrease in costs associated with producing fermentation products from lignocellulosic materials. Conditions suitable for simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation are typically pH 5 to 7 at a temperature between 30° C. and 37° C. with incubations of between 24 and 96 hours or longer, such as continuous fermentations. Typically, if the ethanologenic microbe is a prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli, the Paenibacillus spp. is typically one that does not produce an antimicrobial that is active against prokaryotic microbes. If the ethanologenic microbe is a eukaryotic microbe, such as yeast, the Paenibacillus spp. is typically one that does produce an antimicrobial that is active against prokaryotic microbes. It is expected that other microbes, including Cellulomonas spp., such as C. fimi, may also be used in co-culture with an ethanologenic microbe produce saccharifying enzymes during a hydrolysis/fermentation.

Ethanol fermentation is the biological process by which sugars such as glucose are converted into cellular energy, thereby producing ethanol and carbon dioxide as metabolic waste products. Ethanologenic microbes typically carry out ethanol fermentation on sugars in the absence of oxygen. Since the process does not require oxygen, ethanol fermentation is classified as anaerobic. In general, the process begins with a molecule of glucose being broken down by the process of glycolysis into pyruvate. This reaction is accompanied by the reduction of two molecules of NAD⁺ to NADH and a net of two ADP molecules converted to two ATP plus the two water molecules. Pyruvate is then converted to acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide. The acetaldehyde is subsequently reduced to ethanol by the NADH from the previous glycolysis, which is returned to NAD⁺. For maximum efficiencies, both pentose sugars from the hemicellulose fraction of the lignocellulosic material (e.g. xylose) and hexose sugars from the cellulose fraction (e.g. glucose) can be used.

A fermentation is typically begun by adding an ethanologenic microbe to a fermentation mixture of pretreated lignocellulosic material, or in some aspects, hydrolyzed pretreated lignocellulosic material. Optionally, a Paenibacilus spp. may be added to a fermentation mixture prior to, or at the same time as, the ethanologenic microbe. The amount of solids present at the beginning of a fermentation may be from 8% to 17% weight of solids per volume of fermentation mixture (wt/vol), from 10% to 15% wt/vol, or 12% wt/vol. As used herein, “solids” refers to total dry weight of a pretreated lignocellulosic material. The ethanologenic microbe may be added to the fermentation medium so that the viable ethanologenic microbe, such as yeast, is present in the fermentation medium in a range from 10⁵ to 10¹², such as from 10⁷ to 10¹⁰ cells per milliliter. Fermentation with ethanologenic microbes, e.g., yeast strains, is typically optimal around temperatures of 26° C. to 40° C., such as 30° C. to 37° C. A fermentation may be carried out for between 25 and 190 hours, 40 to 170 hours, or 60 to 150 hours.

Optionally, during a fermentation the fermentation mixture may be supplemented with additional solids. For instance, between 2% and 5% wt/vol solids may be added at intervals of, for example, 12 hours or 24 hours. In one aspect, a fermentation may be supplemented with solids at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. Optionally, during a fermentation the fermentation mixture may be supplemented with additional amounts of an ethanologenic microbe. For instance, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, or 1×10⁸ cells per milliliter of an ethanologenic microbe may be added at intervals of, for example, 12 hours or 24 hours.

The term “ethanologenic microbe” refers to any organism, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, such as yeast and filamentous fungi, suitable for producing a desired fermentation product. Especially suitable ethanologenic microbes useful in the methods disclosed herein are able to ferment, i.e., convert sugars, such as glucose, fructose maltose, xylose, mannose and/or arabinose, directly or indirectly into the desired fermentation product. Examples of eukaryotic ethnaologenic microbes include fungal organisms, such as yeast. Preferred yeast includes strains of the genus Saccharomyces, in particular Saccharomyces cerevisiaeor Saccharomyces uvarum; members of the genus Pichia, in particular Pichia stipitis or Pichia pastoris; members of the genus Candida, in particular Candida utilis, Candida arabinofermentans, Candida diddensii, Candida sonorensis, Candida shehatae, Candida tropicalis, or Candida boidinii. Other contemplated yeast includes members of the genus Hansenula, in particular Hansenula polymorpha or Hansenula anomala; members of the genus Kluyveromyces, in particular Kluyveromyces marxianus or Kluyveromyces fagilis, and members of the genus Schizosaccharomyces, in particular Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Examples of commercially available suitable yeast include, e.g., RED STAR and ETHANOL RED yeast (available from Fermentis/Lesaffre, USA), FALI (available from Fleischmann's Yeast, USA), SUPERSTART and THERMOSACC fresh yeast (available from Ethanol Technology, Wisconsin, USA), BIOFERM AFT and XR (available from NABC—North American Bioproducts Corporation, Georgia, USA), GERT STRAND (available from Gert Strand AB, Sweden), and FERMIQL (available from DSM Specialties). Genetically modified yeast may be used in certain aspects of the methods described herein, including those capable of converting hexoses and pentoses to ethanol.

Examples of prokaryotic ethanologenic microbes include, but are not limited to, Escherichia, in particular Escherichia coli, members of the genus Zymomonas, in particular Zymomonas mobilis, members of the genus Zymobacter, in particular Zymobactor palmae, members of the genus Klebsiella, in particular Klebsiella oxytoca, members of the genus Leuconostoc, in particular Leuconostoc mesenteroides, members of the genus Clostridium, in particular Clostridium butyricum, members of the genus Enterobacter, in particular Enterobacter aerogenes, and members of the genus Thermoanaerobacter, in particular Thermoanaerobacter BG1L1 (Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 77: 61-86) and Thermoanarobacter ethanolicus, Thermoanaerobacter thermosaccharolyticum, or Thermoanaerobacter mathranii. Members of the genus Lactobacillus are also envisioned as are strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum R. Bacillus thermoglucosidaisus, and Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius.

The final step may be recovery of the fermentation product. The fermentation product may be distilled using conventional methods producing ethanol, for instance 95% ethanol. For example, after fermentation the fermentation product, e.g., ethanol, may be separated from the fermented slurry. The slurry may be distilled to extract the ethanol, or the ethanol may be extracted from the fermented slurry by micro or membrane filtration techniques. Alternatively the fermentation product may be recovered by stripping. Methods for recovery are known in the art and used routinely. The material remaining after recovery of the fermentation product is spent hydrolysate.

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples. It is to be understood that the particular examples, materials, amounts, and procedures are to be interpreted broadly in accordance with the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

Example 1

Use of enzymes produced by Paenibacillus amylolyticus, including, but not limited to saccharifying enzymes, to breakdown substrates composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and/or pectin.

P. amylolyticus isolate C27,referred to herein as P. amylolyticus C27, was isolated from a hindgut extract of a Tipula abdominalis larva (Cook et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol, 2007, 73:5683-5686; DeCrescenzo Henriksen et al., Lett. Appl. Microbiol, 2007, 45:491-496). P. amylolyticus C27 was grown on basal minimal media with 1% (wt/vol) carbon sources as listed in the Table 1. After 48 hours, supernatant was collected via centrifugation and assayed for xylanase, pectinase, amylase, and CMCase (cellulase) activity using dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS).

The defined basal medium was based on Modified Davis minimal media; 7 g K₂HPO₄/liter, 3 g KH₂PO₄/liter, 1 g (NH₂)₂SO₄/liter, 0.5 g sodium citrate/liter, 0.1 g MgSO₄-7H₂O/liter. The original recipe includes glucose. Glucose was not added, and the sugars listed below were individually added to result in 11 separate media.

TABLE 1 Enzyme Assays IU/mL Substrate Xylanase Pectinase Amylase CMCase Glucose 0 0 0.222 0.119 Mannose 0.185 0.251 0.275 0.457 Xylose 0.127 0.232 0.074 0.092 Arabinose 0.125 0.225 0.094 0.15 Cellulose 0.327 0.178 0.073 0 Pectin 0.135 0 0.215 0.172 Starch 0 0.186 0 0 Xylan 0.378 0.057 0.09 0.119 CMC 0.168 0.206 0 0.081 Pine acid 0 0 0.093 0.093 hydrolysate Pine acid 0.133 0 0.104 0.104 hydrolysate, overlimed CMC refers to carboxymethylcellulose.

These data indicate that P. amylolyticus produces xylanase, pectinase, amylase, and cellulase when grown in the minimal basal media in the presence of various carbon sources.

Example 2

Use of P. amylolyticus in fermentation process with yeast, where production of antimicrobial polymyxin E reduces bacterial contaminants and the production of enzymes degrades biomass.

P. amylolyticus is grown in spent (i.e., post fermentation) biomass to produce antimicrobials and enzymes that can then be fed into the beginning of the next round of the process. For instance, pine is pretreated using acid hydrolysis with an acid such as, for instance, an anhydride of an acid, such as an inorganic acid. Enzymes from a commercial supplier are added to start the digestion of the biomass to produce sugars such as glucose, mannose, xylose, etc. Examples of commercially available enzymes that can be added include Novozyme 13 (a mixture of cellulases, Novozymes, Franklinton, N.C.) and Cellobiase (Novozymes, Franklinton, N.C.). The yeast ferment the glucose and mannose to ethanol while the xylose, a carbohydrate that typically cannot be used by yeast, accumulates in the medium. P. amylolyticus is added to the fermenter after the ethanol is distilled. P. amylolyticus then use the xylose as a carbon source in order to grow and to produce enzymes. Salts and other components that result in a better environment for growth of P. amylolyticus may be added to the fermenter, such as the ingredients of the defined basal medium described above, but without any supplemental carbon source.

More pretreated pine is added to the fermenter, along with more yeast. Because of the production of enzymes by P. amylolyticus, the amount of commercial enzyme required to digest the biomass is lower. Consequently, the costs associated with fermentation are decreased. Further, since P. amylolyticus may produce polymyxins (DeCrescenzo Henriksen et al., Lett. Appl. Microbiol, 2007, 45:491-496), the possibility of contamination by prokaryotic microbes is decreased.

Example 3

Production of P. amylolyticus that does not produce polymyxin E.

P. amylolyticus C27 was mutagenized with Tn917 (on plasmid pLTV3) as follows.

Electrocompetent cell preparation. P. amylolyticus C27 was streaked out. on Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar and incubated overnight at 37° C. A single colony was used to inoculate 5 mL BHI broth, which was then incubated overnight at 37° C. with shaking. Fifty milliliters BHI broth was inoculated with 0.5 mL (1%) of C27 overnight culture and grown to OD₆₀₀ 0.2, at which time penicillin was added to a final concentration of 0.12 mg/L, The culture was then grown to OD₆₀₀ 0.8, harvested by centrifugation, washed three times in electroporation buffer (316 mM sucrose, 1 mM MgCl₂), and resuspended in 0.5 mL of the same buffer,

Plasmid preparation. Plasmid pLTV3, containing Tn917, (Camilli et al., J. Bacterid., 1990, 172:3738-3744, available from the Bacillus Genetic Stock Center, The Ohio State University) was prepared from Escherichia coli K12 ER2925 using a Qiagen spin miniprep kit. The use of this E. colistrain provides plasmid DNA free of methylation.

Electroporation. Electrocompetent C27 cells were mixed with 0.5 ug pLTV3 plasmid DNA and electroporated in a 4 mm gap length cuvette (2.5 kV, 200 Ω, 25 uF). After 1 hour recovery at 32° C., cells were plated on BHI containing erythromycin (ERM) at 5 mg/ml, and incubated at 32° C.

Library construction. P. amylolyticus C27 pLTV3 was streaked out on BHI-ERM and incubated at 32° C. for 48 hours. A single colony was used to inoculate 5 mL BHI-ERM broth which was incubated at 32° C. overnight with shaking. Fifty milliliters BHI-ERM broth was inoculated with 0.5 mL (1%) of C27 pLTV3 overnight culture and grown at 32° C. to OD₆₀₀ 0.2 at which time the temperature was increased to 41° C. and held for 5 hours. Cells were then plated on BHI-ERM agar and incubated at 37° C. for two days.

Library screening. Colonies from BHI-ERM plates at 37° C. were picked and patched into 200 uL BHI-ERM broth in 96-well plates. After two days of growth, a 96-pin replicator was used to transfer cells to BHI-ERM plates. These plates were grown for 48 hours at 37° C., and, at that time, a soft agar culture seeded with E. coli was poured onto the surface of the plates. After 24 hours of growth, colonies displaying no inhibition of E. coliwere chosen for further study.

Four thousand colonies were screened and one antibiotic loss of function mutant was identified. This strain was designated P. amylolyticus 97-6. E. colistrains were capable of growth in culture extracts from this mutant.

Example 5

Use of P. amylolyticus antibiotic production mutant strain in fermentation processes with bacteria, whereby production of enzymes degrades biomass.

P. amylolyticus strains that are incapable of producing polymyxin E can be used in conjunction with prokaryotic microbes, such as E. coli, that ferment biomass to yield ethanol. The P. amylolyticus mutant is grown in spent (i.e., post fermentation with a prokaryotic microbe) biomass to produce enzymes that, can then be fed into the beginning of the next round of the process. For instance, pine is pretreated using acid hydrolysis with an acid such as, for instance, an anhydride of an acid, such as an inorganic acid. Enzymes from a commercial supplier are added to start the digestion of the biomass to produce sugars such as glucose, mannose, xylose, etc. The prokaryotic microbes ferment the glucose, mannose, and, typically, some xylose to ethanol. P. amylolyticus is added to the fermenter after the ethanol is distilled. P. amylolyticus then uses the remaining carbon sources to grow and to produce enzymes. Salts and other components that result in a better environment for growth of P. amylolyticus may be added to the fermenter, such as the ingredients of the defined basal medium described above. Supplemental carbon could be added if the fermenting prokaryotic microbe, such as E. coli, consumes all the carbon sources during the initial fermentation.

More pretreated pine is added to the fermenter, along with more E. coli. Because of the production of enzymes by P. amylolyticus, the amount of commercial enzyme required to digest the biomass is lower, which lowers the cost of producing ethanol from biomass. Furthermore, the commercial enzymes used are typically fungal, and often have optimal activities at temperatures that are lower than the temperatures used for fermentation by a prokaryotic microbe.

Example 6

Fermentation of SO₂ Pretreated Southern Yellow Pine (10% solids) with yeast or both yeast and P. amylolyticus strain 27C64.

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as follows. Loblolly pine from Georgia, USA, was chipped to a particle size of 10 mm or less. Chips were then pretreated with gaseous sulfur dioxide in two steps, A batch of a known amount of chips was treated with 2.5% SO2 wt/wt of moisture content in chips, at a temperature of 190° C. for 5 minutes. Following this pretreatment step, the material was pressed using a hydraulic press to collect liquid. This liquid was called G3L1 and was not used in the experiments described herein. The pretreated solids (material remaining after the liquid was pressed out and removed), was then washed with water and pressed to a dry matter content of 40%. These washed dry matter solids are now called G3S1.

In the second step, G3S1 was impregnated with 2.5% SO₂ wt/wt of moisture content in the solids, and allowed to react at a temperature of 210° C. for 5 minutes. The samples obtained using these two steps of pretreatment were named G3L2 (L is for the liquid stream) and G3S2 (S is for the solids stream). Moisture content of the pretreated G3S2 pine was 71.53%.

Fermentation with Yeast: Experiments A and B.

Two bioreactors each containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2 pine were autoclaved at 121 ° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (15 FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60 U/g) (Novozymes, Inc. Franklinton, N.C.). Active dried yeast (ADY, obtained from North American Bioproducts Corporation, Duluth, Ga.) was inoculated at a concentration of 2 g/l in each vessel. The total volume of fermentation was 200 ml. Sterile water was added to the bioreactor to mimic the addition of 27C64 to C and D below.

Fermentation with Yeast and C64: Experiments C and D.

Two bioreactors each containing 20 g dry wt, (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2 pine were autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (12 FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60 U/g). Active dried yeast was inoculated at a concentration of 2 g/l in each bioreactor. Five hundred milliliters of overnight grown culture of 27C64 was centrifuged, pellet resuspended in a small volume of 2× TSB and 5×10⁷ cells (roughly 0.2 grams dry weight of bacteria) were added to the fermentor. The total volume of fermentation was 200 ml.

TABLE 2 Ethanol production from pretreated pine G3S2 at 10% solids with and without coinoculation with the bacterium 27C64. Columns A and B (experiments A and B) used only yeast cells and 15 FPU cellulase and 60 U cellobiase per gram dry weight of G3S2. Columns C and D (experiments C and D) used only 12 FPU cellulase and 60 U cellobiase per gram dry weight of G3S2 with inoculation of 27C64 cells at the same time as yeast and commercial enzyme addition. Ethanol (g/L): Yeast Yeast and 27C64 Time (h) A B C D 24 22.71 23.08 23.56 23.33 48 26.40 26.84 30.07 28.99 144 27.21 28.37 30.28 29.93

Maximum ethanol per FPU of Novozyme enzyme in experiments A and B: Average of ethanol production was 27.79 g/L*0.2L=5.558 g ethanol/300 total FPU=0.0185 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme. At 48 hours 26.62 g/L*0.2L=5.324/300 FPU total=0.01775 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme.

Maximum ethanol per FPU of Novozyme enzyme in experiments C and D: Average of ethanol production was 30.105 g/L*0.2L=6,021 g ethanol/240 total FPU=0,0251 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme. At 48 hours 29,53 g ethanol/L=5.906 g ethanol/240 FPU=0.0246 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase enzyme. The maximum ethanol concentration theoretically possible for this pretreated pine G3S2 was 31.8 g ethanol per liter of fermentation broth.

These data clearly demonstrate it was possible to reduce the concentration of Novozyme cellulase enzyme by 20%, from 15 FPU/g dry wt biomass to 12 FPU/g dry wt biomass without sacrificing ethanol production.

Example 7

Fermentation of SO₂ Pretreated Southern Yellow Pine (15% solids) with a Culture of Yeast and P. Amylolyticus Strain 27C64: Effect of Step Wise Addition of G3S2 Solids.

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as described in Example 6. Moisture content of pretreated G3S2 pine was 71.53%.

Experiment 1: Effect of step wise addition of G3S2 solids (total solids 15%) and yeast.

Ten percent dry weight G3S2 solids were fermented simultaneously with enzymes Novozyme 13 (15 FPU/g dry wt) and Cellobiase (60 U/g) and active dried yeast (2g/l). Eight grams G3S2, enzymes Novozyme 13 and Cellobiase for 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the above bioreactors at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. The total volume was approximately 250 ml after the solids additions.

Results.

TABLE 3 Ethanol (g/L): G3S2 Time (h) A B 0 0.67 0.56 12* 14.04 13.10 24* 27.97 27.86 36* 32.30 32.78 48  40.35 40.35 72  42.92 42.26 96  46.64 46.02 120  43.69 44.56 *Ethanol after addition of 8 g solids

These data demonstrate maximum ethanol production at 96 hours was 46.3 g/L*0.250L=11.575 g ethanol when yeast was used.

Experiment 2: Effect of Step Wise Addition of G3S2 Solids (Total Solids 17.6%) with Yeast and C64.

Pretreated G3S2 pine was produced as described in Example 6. Moisture content of pretreated GA3 pine was 71.53%.

I. Fermentation Using 27C64 Cells and Culture Broth Containing Enzymes Added 24 Hours Prior to Inoculation with Yeast.

A bioreactor containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2 pine was autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 1.3 (12 FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60U/g). 8×TSB (25 ml) was added as a nutrient source. Five hundred milliliters of 27C64 culture was centrifuged and 75 ml of supernatant was added to each of two bioreactors. At time −24 hours, 27C64 cell pellets were resuspended in TSB and added to the bioreactors. The fermenters were mixed well and a sample removed for plate counts. At time −24 hours, i.e., 24 hours before addition of yeast, approximately 2×10⁵ cells per ml were present. ADY was inoculated at a concentration of 2 g/l in the bioreactor at time zero.

Eight grams dry weight G3S2 solids, enzymes Novozyme 13 and Cellobiase for 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the above bioreactors at 36 hours, 48 hours, and 60 hours. The total volume was approximately 290 ml. At 24 hours the number of C64 cells had decreased to 1×10⁵ cells per ml.

II. Fermentation Using Yeast, 27C64 Cells, and Culture Broth Containing Enzymes Added at the Same Time as the Yeast Inoculum.

A bioreactor containing 20 g dry wt. (10% solids) of pretreated G3S2 pine was autoclaved at 121° C. and treated with Novozyme 13 (12 FPU/g) and Cellobiase (60U/g). 8×TSB (25 ml) was added as a nutrient source. Two hundred fifty milliliters of 27C64 culture was centrifuged and 75 ml supernatant containing 27C64 enzymes was added to the bioreactor. The cell pellet was resuspended in a small amount of TSB, added to the bioreactor, and mixed well. Samples were removed for plate counts and reflected approximately 3×10⁵ cells per ml were present at time zero. At time zero, 27C64 pellets which were resuspended in TSB were inoculated along with ADY at a concentration of 2 g/l.

Eight grams dry weight G3S2 solids, enzymes Novozyme 13 and Cellobiase for 8 g solids, and 0.1 g ADY were added to the above bioreactors at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours. The total volume was approximately 290 ml. At 24 hours the number of C64 cells had decreased to 7×10⁴ cells per ml.

Spore count at time 0 and 24 hours: no spores detected.

TABLE 4 Ethanol (g/L): 27C64 cells and broth alone, yeast addition at 27C64 cells, broth, time zero (24 hours after and yeast added Time (hours) addition of 27C64 cells) all at time 0. −24  0 NA 0 1.30  1.00 12* 14.70 15.31 24* 25.51 24.48 36* 31.21 30.77 48  42.78 35.24 79  45.08 40.15 96  46.60 46.12 120  48.00 47.00 144  48.05 48.15 −24 refers to 24 hours prior to inoculation with yeast. *Ethanol after addition of 8 g solids

At 96 hours the average ethanol production was 46.12 g/L*0.29 L=13.38 g ethanol for 0.0253 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase. The average maximum ethanol (144 hours) was 48.15 g/L*0.290 L=13.96 g ethanol for 0.0264 g ethanol/FPU Novozyme cellulase.

In summary, fermentations with addition of P. amylolyticus 27C64 cells at the same time as inoculation with yeast reached the same or greater ethanol concentrations with 20% less commercial enzyme. Adding 27C64 cells and broth containing Paenibacillus enzymes 24 hours prior to yeast inoculation changes the overall process time by 24 hours without increasing ethanol yield. The ethanol concentrations for 48 and 72 hours after yeast inoculation, with and without pre-incubation with 27C64, were higher for the fermentations with pre-incubations, however by 96 hours there was no difference in ethanol yields (see Table 5).

TABLE 5 Comparison of ethanol production with and without Paenibacillus cells, with and without solids addition. FPU Solids added grams Commercial after Final Total Ethanol/FPU 27C64 cells Enzyme fermentation solids % Time Ethanol Ethanol Novozyme Parameter added. added. began. dry wt (hours) (g/L) (g) Cellulase 10% Solids No 15 FPU No 10% 48 26.62 5.324 0.0178 144 27.79 5.558 0.0185 Yes 12 FPU No 10% 48 29.53 5.906 0.0246 144 30.11 6.021 0.0251 10% No ??? Yes 15% 48 40.35 10.09 0.0153 Solids 96 46.33 11.58 0.0175 120 44.11 11.03 0.0167 Yes, added with 12 FPU Yes 15% 48 35.24 10.26 0.0194 supernatant and 96 46.12 13.38 0.0253 yeast at t = 0. 144 48.15 13.96 0.0264 Yes, added with 12 FPU Yes 15% 48 42.78 12.41 0.0235 supernatant 24 96 46.60 13.07 0.0248 hours prior to 144 48.05 13.93 0.0264 addition of yeast * Time is equal to the hours after yeast were added to the fermenters.

The complete disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and publications, and electronically available material (including, for instance, nucleotide sequence submissions in, e.g., GenBank and RefSeq, and amino acid sequence submissions in, e.g., SwissProt, PIR, PRF, PDB, and translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank and RefSeq) cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that any inconsistency exists between the disclosure of the present application and the disclosure(s) of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of the present application shall govern. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, molecular weights, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. All numerical values, however, inherently contain a range necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified. 

1. A method for producing ethanol comprising: fermenting a composition comprising a pretreated lignocellulosic material, wherein the fermenting comprises contacting the composition with an ethanologenic microbe and a Paenibacillus spp.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pretreated lignocellulosic material is present at a concentration of at least 10% solids.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fermenting is a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethanologenic microbe is a yeast.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethanologenic microbe is E. coli.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pretreated lignocellulosic material is pine.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pine is Pinus taeda.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the Paenibacillis spp. is P. amylolyticus .
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the Paenibacillis spp. produces an enzyme having saccharifying activity when incubated on a medium comprising inorganic salts and a carbon source selected from glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, or a combination thereof. 11-13. (canceled)
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting comprises inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillis spp. before inoculating the composition with the ethanologenic microbe,
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein contacting comprises inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillus spp. at least 12 hours before the composition is inoculated with the ethanologenic microbe.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting comprises inoculating the composition with the Paenibacillis spp, and the ethanologenic microbe at substantially the same time.
 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding pretreated lignocellulosic material to the composition after the fermenting has begun.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the adding occurs at least 12 hours after the fermenting has begun. 20-49. (canceled) 